Greetings, caretaker. I am your Haworthia. I am trying to communicate with you, and my shriveled, wrinkled leaves are my most direct language. I am not necessarily dying, but I am expressing a significant need. From my perspective, here are the primary reasons for my current state.
This is the most common and often the simplest reason. My plump, fleshy leaves are my water reservoirs. When you provide me with water, I store it in these leaf tissues, making them firm and turgid. When the soil remains dry for an extended period, I must slowly deplete these internal reserves to sustain my core functions. As I use this stored water, the leaves lose their internal pressure and begin to shrink and wrinkle, starting from the tips or the outermost leaves and moving inwards. It is a slow, deliberate process. If I am thirsty, a good drink will typically plump my leaves back up within a week or two. Please check my soil; if it is bone-dry and pulling away from the edges of the pot, this is likely my plea for hydration.
Paradoxically, my leaves can also shrivel when my roots are drowning. This is a more serious situation. If my soil is consistently waterlogged, the delicate roots that absorb water and nutrients begin to suffocate and decay. Once these roots are dead, they can no longer transport water to my leaves, no matter how wet the soil is. Essentially, I am dying of thirst while standing in a swamp. The shriveling in this case is accompanied by other symptoms. My leaves may turn yellow, become translucent, or feel mushy to the touch. The plant itself may be loose in the pot. If you suspect this, you must gently remove me from the soil and inspect my roots. Healthy roots are firm and white or tan. Rotten roots are dark, soft, and slimy. They must be removed, and I must be repotted in fresh, dry, well-draining soil.
If you have recently repotted me, I may be experiencing transplant shock. During repotting, some of my finer roots are inevitably damaged or broken. These microscopic root hairs are critical for water uptake. Until I have time to regenerate these roots and establish myself in my new environment, my ability to absorb water is temporarily impaired. Consequently, I may reabsorb water from some of my older leaves, causing them to shrivel. This is usually a temporary condition. Please ensure I am in appropriate, well-draining soil and give me a few weeks to settle in, providing gentle light and careful watering.
Do not be alarmed if the very bottom, outermost leaves on my rosette are slowly shriveling while the inner, newer leaves remain plump and healthy. This is a natural process called senescence. As I grow and produce new leaves from my center, the oldest leaves at the base have fulfilled their purpose. I will gradually reabsorb the moisture and nutrients from these leaves to fuel new growth. They will dry out, become papery, and can be gently removed once they are completely desiccated. This is a sign of healthy growth, not a problem.
While I appreciate bright light, intense, direct sunlight—especially through a hot window—can cause excessive transpiration (water loss through my leaves). If the rate of water loss exceeds what my roots can supply, my leaves will begin to shrivel as a defense mechanism. This is often accompanied by a color change, such as my green leaves turning reddish, brown, or white (bleaching). I prefer bright, but indirect light. If I am getting too much sun, my shriveling is a request for a slightly shadier spot.
